Letters of Lydia Maria Child, with a biographical introduction by John G. Whittier and an appendix by Wendell Phillips.

80 LETTERS.
What a shame the women can't vote! We'd carry our'; Jessie " into the White House on our shoulders;
would n't we? Never mind! Wait a while! Woman
stock is rising in the market. I shall not live to see
women vote; but I'll come and rap at the ballotbox. Won't you? I never was bitten by politics
before; but such mighty issues are depending on this
election that I cannot be indifferent.
TO MISS LUCY OSGOOD.
WAYLAND, July 9, 1856.
I did not intend to leave your New York letter so
long unanswered, but the fact is, recent events have
made me heart-sick. MlIy anxiety about Charles Sumner and about the sufferers in Kansas has thrown
a pall over everything. The fire of indignation is
the only thing that has lighted up my gloom. At
times my peace principles have shivered in the wind;
and nothing could satisfy my mood but Jeanne d'Arc's
floating banner and consecrated sword. And when
this state of mind was rebuked by the remembrance
of him who taught us to overcome evil only with
good, I could do nothing better than groan out, in a
tone of despairing reproach, "How long, O Lord!
how long?" Certainly there are gleams of light
amid the darkness. There has been more spirit
roused in the North than I thought was in her. I
begin to hope that either the slave power must yield
to argument and the majesty of public sentiment or
else that we shall see an army in the field, stout and
unyielding as Cromwell's band..
I thank you very heartily for Mr. Wasson1's sermonl, " The Universe No Failure." It is the most
remarkable discourse I ever read. I-e puts the lever